Apparatus for producing drinkable water from air

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the field of water condensing apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus for producing drinkable water from air, comprising: a condensing device for condensing moisture out of air, a purification device, and a horizontally disposed tri-layer platform; the condensing device comprises an adsorption rotor, a heat exchange mechanism, and an air circulation duct group; the purification device comprises a water storage component and a purification component, and the purification component comprises a filter member and an ultraviolet sterilization member in communication with the heat exchange mechanism. As such, the moisture in the air is first condensed out; and then sterilization and filtration are performed, so as to avoid redundant work of the apparatus and improve the operating efficiency. The air entering from the air inlet of the heat exchanger firstly undergoes the heat exchange to condense water in the heat exchanger, and then enters the adsorption rotor from the first air outlet of the heat exchanger to perform secondary condensation on the condensed air, thereby further improving the condensation efficiency.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a field of water condensing apparatus,and particularly to an apparatus for producing drinkable water from air.

Description of Related Art

All over the earth on which humans depend for living, many countries andregions are reduced to water shortage due to environmental and climateissues, people are severely deprived of normal and healthy access todrinkable water. The art to produce water from air takes effective useof moisture in the air of the earth, with prior arts in the marketgenerally adopting compressor refrigeration (i.e. to condense out ofair) to extract the moisture from air; however, the apparatus forproducing drinkable water from air is prone to frosting on its vaporizerwhen operating under a low temperature/slightly humid environment. Inaddition, it's inevitable to adopt refrigerant if a compressor isemployed, with atmospheric ozonosphere destroyed by the refrigerant,causing environmental pollution.

In order to solve the above problem, Chinese patent application No.CN201010294394.8 discloses an apparatus for producing drinkable waterfrom air, comprising: a housing, a frame, a water producing component, awater processing component, and a controller. The water producingcomponent, the water processing component and the controller are alldisposed within the housing. The water producing component comprises aabsorption rotor, a heat rejection fan, a regeneration heater, a heatexchanger and an inlet air blower, wherein the hear rejection fan isconnected with the regeneration heater and they are both fixed onto theframe. The heat exchanger comprises an outer cavity and an inner cavity.The regeneration heater forms an absorption rotor regeneration zone onthe absorption rotor. The absorption rotor, the outer cavity of the heatexchanger, and the inlet air blower form an inlet air passage. The heatrejection fan, the regeneration heater, the absorption rotorregeneration zone, and the inner cavity of the heat exchanger form ahumid air passage. The absorption rotor regeneration zone is connectedwith the heat exchanger through a regeneration ventilation duct.

Operating principles behind the above technical solution are as follows:an air filter is provided in front of the absorption rotor and is fixedon the housing, effective in absorbing bacteria, oil, harmful gases andfine particles in the air; the water producing component furthercomprises a water collection drawer, and the heat exchanger is connectedwith the water collection drawer through a conduit for collecting thewater produced by the water producing component. A lower water tank isused to store water before purification and sterilization, and an upperwater tank is used to store the water after purification andsterilization, and the purification and sterilization devises are bothused to process the water produced by the water producing component.

Defects of the above solution are as follows: during the process thatthe air filter in front of the absorption rotor absorbs the bacteria,oil, harmful gases and fine particles in the air, a certain amount ofmoisture is also absorbed, with moisture in the air reduced. As aresult, operating period is extended in terms of equal amount of waterobtained, which causes electrical consumption and unnecessary waste ofenergy.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus forproducing drinkable water from air, so as to overcome the defects of theprior art.

The following technical solution is set forth to address the aboveproblems:

An apparatus for producing drinkable water from air includes acondensing device, a purification device for purifying the condensedwater from the condensing device, and a tri-layer platform disposedhorizontally. The condensing device is provided on an upper half sectionof the tri-layer platform and the purification device is provided on alower half section of the tri-layer platform. The condensing devicecomprises an absorption rotor for blocking moisture in the air, a heatexchange mechanism, and a circulation duct group for ensuring aircirculation between the absorption rotor and the heat exchangemechanism. The purification device comprises a water storage componentand a purification component. The purification component comprises afilter member and an ultraviolet sterilization member in communicationwith the heat exchange mechanism.

Further, the absorption rotor is disposed vertically and is mounted on atop end of the bi-layer platform by clamp plates. The adsorption rotoris cylindrical and has a honeycomb structure. The vertical clamp platesare provided with ring grooves for mounting the absorption rotor, anaxis of the absorption rotor is perpendicular to the planes of the clampplates. The absorption rotor is sleeved with a belt around its cylinderperiphery. A drive motor is provided on a side of the clamp plates, anddrives the absorption rotor to rotate around its axis. Circular throughholes on the clamp plates are provided on both sides of the absorptionrotor for allowing air passage.

Further, the heat exchange mechanism comprises a heat exchanger havingan air inlet, a hot air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outletand a water outlet, the circulation duct group comprises a firstconnection duct for communicating the hot air inlet of the heatexchanger with the absorption rotor on its one side near the heatexchanger, a second connection duct right above the first connectionduct for communicating the first air outlet of the heat exchanger withthe absorption rotor on its one side near the heat exchanger, and athird connection duct for communicating the second air outlet with theabsorption rotor on its one side away from the first connection duct,wherein the air inlet of the heat exchanger is connected with a fan, andthe water outlet of the heat exchanger is connected with the ultravioletsterilization member.

Further, a heater is provided on the side where the absorption rotor isin communication to the third connection duct, a sectorial connectionplate is provided at a position where the absorption rotor is connectedwith the first connection duct, the heater is opposite to the sectorialconnection plate, and the pointed end of the sectorial connection platepoints vertically upward and towards the center of a correspondingthrough hole.

Further, the ultraviolet sterilization member comprises an ultravioletgermicidal lamp and a water storage pot disposed horizontally. The waterstorage pot is provided with a water inlet duct communicating with thewater outlet of the heat exchanger and a water outlet duct communicatingwith the filter member, the water inlet duct and the outlet duct areboth vertically disposed at a top portion of the water storage pot, andthe filter member comprises a plurality of ultrafiltration membranesconnected end to end.

Further, the water storage component comprises a water collection tankdisposed right below the filter member and a water storage tank disposedat a top portion of the tri-layer platform, and the water collectiontank and the water storage tank are provided with a pump therebetween toconvey water in the water collection tank to the water storage tank.

Further, the fan and the water storage tank are disposed on an upperlayer of the tri-layer platform, the adsorption rotor and theultraviolet sterilization component are disposed in the middle layer ofthe tri-layer platform, and the water collection tank and the pump aredisposed on the lower layer of the tri-layer platform, and the heatexchanger is disposed between the upper and middle layers of thetri-layer platform, the filter member is disposed between the middle andlower layers of the tri-layer platform.

Further, the water storage tank is in communication to the pump througha water duct.

The present technical solution has the following advantages: disclosedis an apparatus for producing drinkable water from air, the fan isstarted to blow air from the air inlet of the heat exchanger into theheat exchanger, air from the second outlet of the heat exchanger passesthrough the heater and the adsorption rotor through the third connectionduct; the drive motor drives the adsorption rotor to rotate, the airfrom the first outlet of the heat exchanger enters the adsorption rotorthrough the second connection duct, the adsorption rotor retainsmoisture in the air, the moisture-deprived air passes through theadsorption rotor; the heated air from the third connection duct passesthrough the adsorption rotor and gets mixed into the humid air in theadsorption rotor, the humid air enters the heat exchanger from the hotair inlet and exchanges heat with the air entering from the air inlet tocondense moisture into water; after the water enters the water storagepot from the water outlet of the heat exchanger and undergoesultraviolet sterilization, it enters the filter member to undergo afiltration that enables it to meet the drinkable water standard, andthen enters the water collection tank; the pump conveys the water in thewater collection tank through the water duct into the water storagetank, so that the moisture in the air is first condensed out; and thensterilization and filtration are carried out, so as to avoid redundantwork of the apparatus and improve the operating efficiency. The airentering from the air inlet of the heat exchanger firstly undergoes theheat exchange to condense water in the heat exchanger, and then entersthe adsorption rotor from the first air outlet of the heat exchanger toperform secondary condensation on the condensed air, thereby furtherimproving the condensation efficiency.

To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodimentsaccompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first schematic perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a second schematic perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a first perspective view showing the structure of thecondensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a second perspective view showing the structure of thecondensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a first perspective view showing the structure of the waterpurification device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a second perspective view showing the structure of the waterpurification device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the adsorption rotor of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded view showing the structure of theadsorption rotor of the present invention;

References: condensing device 1, adsorption rotor 1 a, vertical clampplate 1 a 1, ring groove 1 a 2, drive motor 1 a 3, belt 1 a 4, circularthrough hole 1 a 5, sectorial connection plate 1 a 6, heat exchanger 1b, air inlet 1 b 1, hot air inlet 1 b 2, first air outlet 1 b 3, secondair outlet 1 b 4, water outlet 1 b 5, circulation duct group 1 c, firstconnection duct 1 c 1, second connection duct 1 c 2, third connectionduct 1 c 3, water purification device 2, water storage component 2 a,water collection tank 2 a 1, water storage tank 2 a 2, pump 2 a 3, waterduct 2 a 4, purification component 2 b, filter member 2 b 1, ultravioletsterilization member 2 b 2, water storage pot 2 b 3, water inlet duct 2b 4, water outlet duct 2 b 5, ultraviolet germicidal lamp 2 b 6, fan 3,heater 4, tri-layer platform 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention are further described in detailbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, an apparatus for producing drinkablewater from air comprises a condensing device for condensing water out ofthe air, and a purification device for purifying the condensed waterfrom the condensing device 1, and a horizontally disposed tri-layerplatform 5. The condensing device 1 is disposed on an upper half sectionof the tri-layer platform 5, and the purification device 2 is disposedon a lower half section of the tri-layer platform 5. The condensingdevice 1 comprises an adsorption rotor 1 a for blocking moisture in theair, a heat exchange mechanism, and a circulation duct group 1 c forrealizing air circulation between the adsorption rotor 1 a and the heatexchange mechanism. The purification device 2 comprises a water storagecomponent 2 a and a purification component 2 b. The purificationcomponent 2 b comprises a filter member 2 b 1 and an ultravioletsterilization member 2 b 2 in communication to the heat exchangemechanism. The heat exchange mechanism and the adsorption rotor 1 acooperate to condense moisture in the air into water, and the waterenters firstly into the ultraviolet sterilization component 2 b 2. Aftersterilization, the water enters the filter component 2 b 1 to undergofiltration, and after the filtration is completed, the water enters thewater storage component 2 a.

The adsorption rotor 1 a is vertically disposed, and the adsorptionrotor 1 a is mounted at a top end of the bi-layer platform by means ofvertical clamp plates 1 a 1. The adsorption rotor 1 a is cylindrical andhas a honeycomb structure, and the vertical clamp plates 1 a 1 areprovided with ring grooves 1 a 2 for mounting the absorption rotor. Anaxis of the adsorption rotor 1 a is perpendicular to planes of thevertical plates 1 a 1. The adsorption rotor 1 a is sleeved with a belt 1a 4 around its periphery, and a drive motor 1 a 3 is provided on a sideof the vertical plates 1 a 1. The drive motor 1 a 3 drives theadsorption rotor 1 a to rotate around its own axis by means of the belt1 a 4, and the vertical clamp plates 1 a 1 are provided with circularthrough holes for air passage on both sides of the adsorption rotor 1 a.The adsorption rotor 1 a is provided with a high-efficiency waterabsorbing material therein. The motor is started to drive the adsorptionrotor 1 a to rotate slowly, and the air from a second connection duct 1c 2 enters the adsorption rotor 1 a from the upper half section of theadsorption rotor 1 a. The adsorption rotor 1 a blocks the moisture inthe air. The adsorption rotor 1 a can increase the humidity of the airpassing through the adsorption rotor 1 a by more than 5 times.

The heat exchange mechanism comprises a heat exchanger 1 _(b), an airinlet 1 b 1, a hot air inlet 1 b 2, a first air outlet 1 b 3, a secondair outlet 1 b 4, and a water outlet 1 b 5 of the heat exchanger 1 _(b).The circulation duct group comprises a first connection duct 1 c 1 forcommunicating the hot air inlet 1 b 2 of the heat exchanger 1 b with theadsorption rotor 1 a on its one side near the heat exchanger 1 b, asecond connection duct 1 c 2 right above the first connection duct forcommunicating the first air outlet 1 b 3 of the heat exchanger 1 b withthe absorption rotor 1 a on its one side near the heat exchanger 1 b,and a third connection duct 1 c 3 for communicating the second airoutlet 1 b 4 with the absorption rotor 1 a on its one side away from thefirst connection duct 1 c 1. The air inlet 1 b 1 of the heat exchanger 1b is connected to the fan 3. The water outlet of the heat exchanger 1 bis connected to the ultraviolet sterilization member 2 b 2. The fan 3 isstarted to blow the air from the air inlet 1 b 1 of the heat exchanger 1b into the heat exchanger 1 b. The air from the second air outlet 1 b 4of the heat exchanger 1 b passes through the heater 4 and the adsorptionrotor 1 a through the third connection duct 1 c 3, and the drive motor 1a 3 drives the adsorption rotor 1 a to rotate. The air from the firstair outlet 1 b 3 of the exchanger 1 b enters the adsorption rotor 1 athrough the second the connection duct 1 c 2. The adsorption rotor 1 aretains moisture in the air, the moisture-deprived air passes throughthe adsorption rotor 1 a, and the heated air from the third connectionduct 1 c 3 passes through the adsorption rotor 1 a and gets mixed intothe humid air in the adsorption rotor 1 a, and the humid air enters theheat exchanger 1 b from the hot air inlet 1 b 2 to exchange heat withthe air entering from the air inlet thereof, so as to condense moistureout.

The heater 4 is provided on the side where the absorption rotor 1 a isin communication with the third connection duct 1 c 3. A sectorialconnection plate 1 a 6 is provided at a position where the absorptionrotor 1 a is connected with the first connection duct 1 c 1. The heater4 is opposite to the sectorial connection plate 1 a 6, and a pointed endof the sectorial connection plate 1 a 6 points vertically upward andtowards a center of a corresponding through hole. The air from thesecond air outlet 1 b 4 of the heat exchanger 1 b is heated by theheater 4 into hot air when passing through the third connection duct 1 c3, gets mixed with the humid air in the adsorption rotor 1 a, passesthrough the adsorption rotor 1 a, and enters into the heat exchanger 1 bthrough the first connection duct 1 c 1.

The ultraviolet sterilization member 2 b 2 comprises an ultravioletgermicidal lamp 2 b 6 and a horizontally disposed water storage pot 2 b3 provided with a water inlet duct 2 b 4 communicating with the wateroutlet 1 b 5 of the heat exchanger 1 b and a water outlet duct 2 b 5communicating with the filter member 2 b 1. The water inlet duct 2 b 4and the outlet duct 2 b 5 are vertically disposed at a top portion ofthe water storage pot 2 b 3. The filter member 2 b 1 comprises aplurality of ultrafiltration membranes connected end to end. The waterenters the water storage pot 2 b 3 from the water inlet duct 2 b 4.After being sterilized by the ultraviolet lamp, the water is introducedinto the filter member 2 b 1 from the water outlet duct 2 b 5.

The water storage component 2 a comprises a water collection tank 2 a 1disposed directly below the filter member 2 b 1 and a water storage tank2 a 2 disposed at a top portion of the tri-layer platform 5. The watercollection tank 2 a 1 and the water storage tank 2 a 2 are providedtherebetween with a pump 2 a 3 to convey water from the water collectiontank 2 a 1 to the water storage tank 2 a 2. The water undergoesfiltration in the filter member 2 b 1 and then enters the watercollection tank 2 a 1, and the pump 2 a 3 conveys the water in the watercollection tank 2 a 1 into the water storage tank 2 a 2.

The fan 3 and the water storage tank 2 a 2 are both disposed on an upperlayer of the tri-layer platform 5, the adsorption rotor 1 a and theultraviolet sterilization member 2 b 2 are disposed on a middle layer ofthe tri-layer platform 5, and the water collection tank 2 a 1 and thepump 2 a 3 are disposed on a lower layer of the tri-layer platform 5.The heat exchanger 1 b is disposed between the upper layer and themiddle layer of the tri-layer platform 5, and the filter member 2 b 1 isdisposed between the middle layer and the lower layer of the tri-layerplatform 5, so that the structure is relatively stable. The waterstorage tank 2 a 2 is provided with a cold water storage tank and a hotwater storage tank therein. The cold water storage tank and the hotwater storage tank are all provided with a liquid level sensor, and thehot water storage tank is provided with a temperature sensor therein.The apparatus is provided with a controller, the fan 3, the drive motor1 a 3, the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 2 b 6, and the heat exchanger 1 bare all electrically connected to the controller.

The water storage tank 2 a 2 communicates with the pump 2 a 3 throughthe water duct 2 a 4, and the pump 2 a 3 conveys the water in the watercollection tank 2 a 1 to the water storage tank 2 a 2 through the waterduct 2 a 4.

Operating principles are as follows: the fan 3 is started to blow airfrom the air inlet 1 b 1 of the heat exchanger 1 b into the heatexchanger 1 b, and the air from the second outlet 1 b 4 of the heatexchanger 1 b passes through the heater 4 and the adsorption rotor 1 athrough the third connection duct 1 c 3. The drive motor 1 a 3 drivesthe adsorption rotor 1 a to rotate, the air from the first outlet 1 b 3of the heat exchanger 1 b passes through the second connection duct 1 c2 into the adsorption rotor 1 a, and the adsorption rotor 1 a retainsmoisture in the air. The moisture-deprived air passes through theadsorption rotor 1 a, the heated air from the third connection duct 1 c3 passes through the adsorption rotor 1 a and gets mixed into the humidair in the adsorption rotor 1 a, and the humid air enters the heatexchanger 1 b from the hot air inlet 1 b 2 and exchanges heat with theair entering from the air inlet thereof to condense moisture into water.The water enters the water storage pot 2 b 3 from the water outlet 1 b 5of the heat exchanger 1 b and is sterilized by ultraviolet rays, andthen enters the filter member 2 b 1 to undergo filtration so as to reachthe standard of drinkable water; and then the water enters the watercollection tank 2 a 1, and the pump 2 a 3 conveys the water in the watercollection tank 2 a 1 into the water storage tank 2 a 2 through thewater duct 2 a 4.

The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, butnot intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.Therefore, any minor modifications, equivalent changes, andmodifications made to the above embodiments in accordance with thetechnical spirit of the present invention still fall within the scope ofthe technical solution of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for producing drinkable water fromair, characterized by comprising: a condensing device (1), apurification device (2) for purifying condensed water from thecondensing device, and a tri-layer platform (5) disposed horizontally;the condensing device (1) being provided on an upper half section of thetri-layer platform (5) and the purification device (2) being provided ona lower half section of the tri-layer platform (5); the condensingdevice (1) comprising an absorption rotor (1 a 1) for blocking moisturein the air, a heat exchange mechanism and a circulation duct group (1 c)for ensuring air circulation between the absorption rotor (1 a) and theheat exchange mechanism; the purification device (2) comprising a waterstorage component (2 a) and a purification component (2 b), and thepurification component (2 b) comprising a filter member (2 b 1) and anultraviolet sterilization member (2 b 2) in communication with the heatexchange mechanism.
 2. The apparatus for producing drinkable water fromair according to claim 1, characterized in that: the adsorption rotor (1a) is vertically disposed and is mounted at a top end of a bi-layerplatform by vertical clamp plates (1 a 1), the adsorption rotor (1 a) iscylindrical and has a honeycomb structure, and the vertical clamp plates(1 a 1) are provided with ring grooves (1 a 2) for mounting theabsorption rotor (1 a), an axis of the adsorption rotor (1 a) isperpendicular to planes of the vertical plates (1 a 1), the adsorptionrotor (1 a) is sleeved with a belt (1 a 4) around its periphery, and adrive motor (1 a 3) is provided on a side of the vertical plates (1 a1); the drive motor (1 a 3) drives the adsorption rotor (1 a) to rotatearound its own axis by the belt (1 a 4), and the vertical clamp plates(1 a 1) are provided with circular through holes for air passage on bothsides of the adsorption rotor (1 a).
 3. The apparatus for producingdrinkable water from air according to claim 1, characterized in that:the heat exchange mechanism comprises a heat exchanger (1 _(b)), an airinlet (1 b 1), a hot air inlet (1 b 2), a first air outlet (1 b 3), asecond air outlet (1 b 4), and a water outlet (1 b 5) of the heatexchanger (1 b); the circulation duct group comprises a first connectionduct (1 c 1) for communicating the hot air inlet (1 b 2) of the heatexchanger (1 b) with the adsorption rotor (1 a) on its one side near theheat exchanger (1 _(b)), a second connection duct (1 c 2) right abovethe first connection duct for communicating the first air outlet (1 b 3)of the heat exchanger (1 b) with the absorption rotor (1 a 1) on its oneside near the heat exchanger (1 b), and a third connection duct (1 c 3)for communicating the second air outlet (1 b 4) with the absorptionrotor (1 a 1) on its one side away from the first connection duct (1 c1), the air inlet (1 b 1) of the heat exchanger (1 b) is connected to afan (3), the water outlet of the heat exchanger (1 b) is connected tothe ultraviolet sterilization member (2 b 2).
 4. The apparatus forproducing drinkable water from air according to claim 3, characterizedin that: a heater (4) is provided on a side where the absorption rotor(1 a 1) is in communication to the third connection duct (1 c 3), asectorial connection plate (1 a 6) is provided at a position where theabsorption rotor (1 a 1) is connected with the first connection duct (1c 1), the heater (4) is opposite to the sectorial connection plate (1 a6), and a pointed end of the sectorial connection plate (1 a 6) pointsvertically upward and towards a center of a corresponding through hole.5. The apparatus for producing drinkable water from air according toclaim 4, characterized in that: the ultraviolet sterilization member (2b 2) comprises an ultraviolet germicidal lamp (2 b 6) and a waterstorage pot (2 b 3) disposed horizontally, the water storage pot (2 b 3)is provided with a water inlet duct (2 b 4) communicating with the wateroutlet (1 b 5) of the heat exchanger (1 b) and an water outlet duct (2 b5) communicating with the filter member (2 b 1); the water inlet duct (2b 4) and the outlet duct (2 b 5) are vertically disposed at a topportion of the water storage pot (2 b 3), and the filter member (2 b 1)comprises a plurality of ultrafiltration membranes connected end to end.6. The apparatus for producing drinkable water from air according toclaim 5, characterized in that: the water storage component (2 a)comprises a water collection tank (2 a 1) disposed directly below thefilter member (2 b 1) and a water storage tank (2 a 2) disposed at a topportion of the tri-layer platform (5); the water collection tank (2 a 1)and the water storage tank (2 a 2) are provided therebetween with a pump(2 a 3) to convey water from the water collection tank (2 a 1) to thewater storage tank (2 a 2).
 7. The apparatus for producing drinkablewater from air according to claim 6, characterized in that: the fan (3)and the water storage tank (2 a 2) are both disposed on an upper layerof the tri-layer platform (5), and the adsorption rotor (1 a 1) and theultraviolet sterilization member (2 b 2) are disposed on a middle layerof the tri-layer platform (5), and the water collection tank (2 a 1) andthe pump (2 a 3) are disposed on a lower layer of the tri-layer platform(5); the heat exchanger (1 b) is disposed between the upper layer andthe middle layer of the tri-layer platform (5), and the filter member (2b 1) is disposed between the middle layer and the lower layer of thetri-layer platform (5).
 8. The apparatus for producing drinkable waterfrom air according to claim 7, characterized in that: the water storagetank (2 a 2) is in communication to the pump (2 a 3) through a waterduct (2 a 4).